James b



Patented Feb. 28, I899. J. B. PERKINS.

SHOVEL.

(Application filed May 13, 1898,)

(No Model.)

llllllllllla'lllll e L m fi. Ea Ki 9 m RZI'SJ @jqfiom e s, v I

"ms NORRIS FETERS c0, FHOYO-UTNQ, WASHINGTDN, D. c

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. PERKINS, OF LEWISTON, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO COMMODORE B. NELSON AND HORACE NELSON, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,493, dated February 28, 1899.

Application filed May 13. 1898. Serial No. 680,599. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Nez Forces and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Shovel, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in shovels.

The object of the presentinvention is to im prove the construction of shovels and to provide a light, durable, and inexpensive one which will enable the handle, should it become broken, to be readily replaced by anew handle and in which the devices for attaching the handle to the blade of the shovel will strengthen the former and not perforate or otherwise weaken it.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shovel constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is'alongitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the shovel, taken transversely of the socket and illustrating the manner of attaching the members-of the handle-socket to theblade of the shovel. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the blade of the shovel, showing the socket open, the handle being removed. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the rear or rigid member of the handle-socket.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates the blade of a shovel, secured to a-handle 2 by means of asocket consisting of a rigid rear section or member 3 and a hinged front section or member 4, adapted to be opened, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings, to permit the handle to be readily removed from and replaced in the socket. The end 5 of the handle, which is fitted in the socket, is curved, as shown, and the rear section or member 3, which is semicylindrical in cross-section, is curved to conform to the bend of the handle and is provided with a tapering enlargement or plate 6, which is riveted or otherwise secured to the lower face of the blade of the shovel. The blade of the shovel is arched at7 over the central portion of the plate or enlargement 6, and the end of the handle is received between the plate and the blade, whereby a rigid support for the handle is provided.

The upper or front section or member 4 of the handle-socket is hinged to the blade of the shovel at the top of the arched portion and is substantially semicylindrical in crosssection to conform to the configuration of the 4 handle. The lower end of the front section or member 4 is provided with perforated ears or lugs 8, arranged at opposite sides of alug 9 of a plate 10 and connected to the said lug 9 by a pintle 11. The plate 10, which forms one of the leaves of the hinge, is concavoconvex in cross-section and is riveted or otherwise secured to the arched portion 7 of the blade of the shovel.

The handle is detachably retained in the socket by means of collars or bands 12 and 13, located at the ends of the socket and adapted to be moved inward on the handle to release the hinged member 4. w

The invention has the following advantages: The shovel,which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is light and durable, and the handle may be readily removed and renewed without removing rivets and without the use of tools necessary for handling such fastening devices. The handlesocket increases the strength of the handle instead of weakening it, and in packing and carrying the shovel it is not necessary to carry a handle, as one can be readily supplied when it is desired to use the shovel.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a blade, a handle-socket com- I posed of a rigid section or member, and a hinged section or member adapted to be swung outward to open the socket for enabling the handle to be readily placed'therein and removed therefrom, and means for detachably connecting the sections or members,whereby the handle is retained in the socket, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a blade, a handle, a socket mounted on the blade and receiving the handle and composed of a rigid member, and a hinged member adapted to be swung outward to open the socket, and bands or collars encircling the handle and embracing the sections of the socket, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a blade having an arched portion 7, the rigid member of the socket provided with an enlargement'or plate secured to the lower face of the blade and extending beneath the arched portion 7, a handle fitting plate or enlargement, the movable section of 20 the socket hinged to the blade at the top of the arched portion, and means for detachably connecting the sections of the socket, sub

stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 2 5 my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, JAMES B. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. ONEILL, ELISHA M. MARTIN. 

